ARTICLE

Scarborough Adventist Church Hosts Successful 2025 Career Expo

December 11, 2025 | Chris Perrotte | OCN

On November 30, 2025, the Men’s Ministry Department of the Scarborough Seventh-day Adventist Church hosted its second annual Career Expo. This event began at 10:00 a.m. and offered something for everyone, featuring resume reviews, mock interviews, virtual reality headsets, free therapist consultations, prize giveaways, and refreshments for sale.

Special guests included the Honourable Justice Donald McLeod, Rokhaya Gueye, Stakeholder Relations Leader at the Carpenters Regional Council; and Chris Campbell, past President of the Carpenters Union. He was also the first Black President in the union's 143-year history. Also, in attendance was Jennifer Jackson, a registered psychotherapist with Bluefields Counselling.

A total of 11 businesses hosted booths to showcase their services: Energy in Motion Fitness, Centennial College, United Brotherhood of Carpenters, ReVine TV, Toronto Fire, Toronto Paramedics, Toronto Police, Bluefields Counselling & Psychotherapy, Progress Career Planning, The Delicate Crumb, and Onyx Barbers, who provided free haircuts throughout the day.

“The importance of a church engaging actively with its community was a key takeaway,” Pastor Chichester added. “The Ontario Conference Men’s Ministries Department provided a subsidy to support this initiative, underscoring its value in an urban environment. Churches play a vital role beyond spiritual guidance—they serve as anchors of hope, connection, and opportunity. By offering programs and resources that help individuals build successful lives, the church meets immediate needs while opening doors to spiritual growth and the promise of eternal life.”

The event capped off Men’s Month at Scarborough Church. The Men’s Ministry team, led by Ulando Robinson and Jean-Mark Wright, is committed to using its platform to provide practical resources to the local community and to demonstrate that the church is more than a place of worship—it is a centre of support and service.

“It’s major-league important,” said Robinson. “God has commissioned us to preach the gospel to all the world, and that includes reaching people individually. Church isn’t just about sitting and listening to sermons on a comfy bench every Sabbath. Outside of that, what are we doing? Our community needs to know who we are, what we’re about, and the services we provide. Aside from praying for people and giving them Bibles, what else can we do to improve the quality of life in our community?”

Robinson emphasised that success also depends on building relationships beyond the church walls.

Jean-Mark, who is the brainchild of this annual event, echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of meeting communicate members where they are.

“Many people are looking for employment, and we’re in an area where youth are particularly vulnerable,” he said. “We want to showcase alternatives to crime, especially for young people. God has called us to go beyond the walls of our church. This expo is one way we can bridge the divide—providing pathways for us to reach the community and for the community to reach us.”

Behind the scenes in assisting the Scarborough Men’s Ministry team in planning this year’s Career Expo was Denise Anderson, leader of Scarborough’s Women’s Ministry and the Ontario Conference.

“The importance of a church engaging actively with its community was also a key takeaway from the expo. The Ontario Conference Men’s Ministries Department provided a subsidy for this initiative, underscoring the importance of such initiatives in an urban environment,” explained Pastor Chichester. “Churches play a vital role beyond spiritual guidance; they serve as anchors of hope, connection, and opportunity. By offering programs and resources that help individuals build successful lives, the church not only meets immediate community needs but also opens doors to deeper spiritual growth and the promise of eternal life.”

Neither cold nor snow could prevent patrons from attending. In total, 155 people visited the Expo. One of the individuals who came was Neethan Shan, a Canadian Politician and Councillor for Scarborough Rouge River.

“I needed to be here to support this,” Shan said. “This is the kind of work we need in our community. This expo brings professionals and career leaders who can share wisdom and experience with young people and others seeking employment. We need more exposure to positive role models—and we must ensure every young person has the opportunity to succeed.”

The Career Expo ran until 5:00 p.m., with many attendees leaving thankful for the experience. The Men’s Ministry team is already looking ahead to Career Expo 2026, aiming to make next year’s event even bigger and better for the community they serve.

Chris Perrotte
OCN Reporter